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Organization: Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley
Date: November 11, 2008
Jim Ventress Honored with Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award
Bank of America Directs $5,000 Grant to Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley
Santa Clarita, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2008) — Jim Ventress, chief professional officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, was one of 10 Local Heroes named at Bank of America's fifth annual Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Awards ceremony, which was held Oct. 28 at the Los Angeles River Center. In recognition of their dedication to serving Los Angeles neighborhoods, honorees had the opportunity to each direct a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit organization. Ventress chose the Boys & Girls Club where he has worked since 1985.
One question in the nomination form asked how Ventress has made a difference and what made him a hero. The response included the following, "Jim's passion to guide youth in the Boys & Girls Club's movement by increasing their educational achievement, improving their self confidence and personal development, and shaping their futures is evident in the community of Santa Clarita. Jim spearheaded feasibility studies, strategic planning, and fundraising, which led to the construction of two multi-million dollar Boys & Girls clubhouses…Jim's favorite motto is 'Give kids attention, recognition and affection, and they will contribute to society, not take away from it.'"
Gary Saenger and Jay Thomas from the Club's governing board of directors attended the ceremony in Los Angeles with Ventress, who only found out about his nomination after it was submitted. "My staff and the board snuck this one by me. I was stunned and honored to learn that I was one of the recipients," he said.
At the ceremony, 10 Student Leaders were also selected, along with four Neighborhood Builders — Chrysalis Center, Inner-City Arts, New Economics for Women, and Para Los Niños. The purpose of the awards program is to recognize, award, and encourage those who are making a difference in the 45 communities that Bank of America serves throughout the United States and London, England.
The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization with more than 4,000 clubs nationwide. The local Club was formed in 1968 by a group of community leaders who recognized the need for high-quality programs and facilities at affordable costs for area young people. The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley now serves more than 3,500 youth. Programs engage members in education and career exploration, the arts, sports, recreation and fitness, character and leadership development, and healthy life choices. For more information, please visit www.scvkids.org.
Santa Clarita, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2008) — Jim Ventress, chief professional officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, was one of 10 Local Heroes named at Bank of America's fifth annual Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Awards ceremony, which was held Oct. 28 at the Los Angeles River Center. In recognition of their dedication to serving Los Angeles neighborhoods, honorees had the opportunity to each direct a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit organization. Ventress chose the Boys & Girls Club where he has worked since 1985.
